Cornford, Frances

The poetry of Frances Cornford (1886–1960) was admired in her lifetime for its simple and direct language, its memorable images, and its perceptive observations. Her Collected Poems (1954) was the Choice of the Poetry Book Society and in 1959 she was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry. This reissued selection brings the finest of her poetry to a new generation of readers.

This selection is introduced by Dr Jane Dowson, Reader in Twentieth-Century Literature at De Montfort University, whose publications include The Cambridge Companion to Twentieth-Century British and Irish Women’s Poetry (CUP, 2011). It includes a memoir written by Dr Hugh Cornford, youngest son of Frances, exploring her friendships and family relationships, and providing a portrait of a warm, courageous and complex personality.